Set in northern England during the 1984 miner's strike, Billy Elliot tells the story of a young working class boy who chooses not to follow his widowed father's instructions to train to be a boxer. Instead, fascinated by the ballet class sharing the same building as his gym, Billy hangs up his gloves to pursue dreams of being a dancer. But even as he discovers his virtuoso gift for ballet he must hide his triumph from his father and brother -- both miners on strike struggling to keep food on the table

My Rating: 3/5

I decided to read this book because I had just watched the movie when I saw it at my local Library.

I liked how the book alternated between Billy and his father's points of view (there were other points of view sometimes but was mainly Billy and his father).

This was a good book and I am glad I read it I just didn't like it as much as I thought I would. I think the book was just lacking the charisma and magic that made the movie so good.

After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities; He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning; His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

My Rating: 5/5

I heard about this book years ago, but dismissed reading it because I thought that the protagonist was too young (he's 12) for me to enjoy reading it. However, I saw the movie and changed my mind because throughout the movie I kept thinking how great the concept would be in book format.

I knew very little of Greek Mythology prior to reading this book, and this book was a great introduction to it all and I am interested in how much more is explored throughout the rest of the series.

I liked Percy and Grover, however I didn't like Annabeth in the movie and I think I had that thought in my mind when reading the book because I didn't like her from the beginning. Hopefully I will warm up to her as the story goes on.

This book is written for younger readers, and there are immature moments throughout although there is enough in this book to make it a very enjoyable read for adults as well.

Because I watched the movie before reading the book I was surprised by how many exciting moments in the book were not included in the movie. Also there were moments in the movie that weren't in the book. They were obviously either added in or in one of the future books.

The next book in the series is called The Sea of Monsters and I currently have it on loan from my library. I am hoping to finish it before I go to Sydney this weekend.

Monday, January 30, 2012

If someone hurts your sister and you're any kind of man, you seek revenge.
If your brother's accused of a terrible crime but says he didn't do it, you defend him.
When Mikey's sister claims a boy assaulted her, his world begins to fall apart. When Ellie's brother is charged with the offense, her world begins to unravel. When Mikey and Ellie meet, two worlds collide.

My Rating: 4/5

This is my second Jenny Downham book and I liked this way more than Before I Die.

I really enjoyed this book, especially the characters. They were so beautifully written.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Mikey and Ellie's points of view. I found this to speed the pace of the novel immensely.

I liked Mikey from his first chapter but it took me a while to warm up to Ellie and I still didn't like her 100% at the conclusion.

The secondary characters were very well written, Mikey's mother especially. I liked Mikey's younger sister enough to forgive her for being a Tottenham fan.

What I liked about this book the most was that it made you think about what you would do if you were in Ellie's situation, as I have a brother and I don't think I would be able to turn on him the way she did.

The family dynamics in both Mikey's and Ellie's families are both very realistic and unfortunately very common these days.

Anna can't wait for her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a good job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. So she's not too thrilled when her father unexpectedly ships her off to boarding school in Paris - until she meets Etienne St. Clair, the perfect boy. The only problem? He's taken, and Anna might be, too, if anything comes of her crush back home. Will a year of romantic near-misses end in the French kiss Anna awaits?

My Rating: 5/5

This book being in the Chick-Lit genre meant that I was hesitant to read it. Although, the amount of positive reviews that I had read definitely changed my mind.

This book had a very intriguing plot and being set in Paris added a whole new dimension to the story.

I really liked Stephanie Perkins style of writing and so I am looking forward to reading some of her future books. Lola and the Boy Next Door will probably be the next one.

The characters were all well written, and I liked all the characters from the first page which doesn't happen for me very often.

This is my first review for the books that I have read so far in 2012, I am behind because my computer died on me. I just got a new one two days ago so I will try and catch up with my reviews as soon as possible.

This book being the first one I read in 2012 has raised the standard of books I hope to read this year.

Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress. Through Marina's diary we gain an insight into life on her dormitory, and her difficult relationship with her father, who injured her in an angry moment. Eventually, Marina makes tentative friendships and, in a moving denouement, is reconciled with her father.

My Rating: 3/5

This is the second time I have read this book. The first time was when I was forced to read it for school, which is where I got my copy from.

This is a very character driven novel. Marina is the only fully developed character but this doesn't matter because she is so strongly portrayed.

The secondary characters were Marina's dormmates, I felt like there wasn't enough to distinguish them from one another.

Overall this is a very short, but memorable read. There is a sequel called Take my Word for It.

On the surface, 17-year-old Alex has it made; she is beautiful and smart. Plus, she's best friends with M., the absolute most popular girl in school. Feeling bored with their fancy Orange County suburban town, Alex and M. decide to check out L.A.'s glitzy nightlife scene.

Pretending to be 19, Alex and M. meet Trevor and Connor, two rich older guys. At first, Alex can't believe her luck--she gets to hang out at hip Hollywood houseparties and downtown L.A. clubs. These weekend trips into the city become the perfect distraction for Alex, who is secretly struggling with her failing senior year grades, her absentee father, and her clueless mom.

But, after the initial fun wears off for Alex, she is forced to reevaluate her friendship with M., who is hiding some secrets beneath her perfect Burberry-clad exterior...

My Rating: 3/5

I decided to get this book from my library because of the author. I have liked what I have read so far of her Immortal series, and decided to read one of her other books.

I didn't like the protagonist Alex or her friend M to begin with as I saw them as too superficial and shallow but as the book progressed I slowly warmed up to them.

Prior to reading this I didn't think I would like it because it looked like a typical chick-lit type book and I am hesitant to read those, yet after reading I wouldn't say I loved this book but it was way better than I was expecting it to be.

I read this book in December 2011 and I don't really remember too much about it which is never a good sign for a book.

The plot, although predictable and rushed at times had interesting subject matter.It was a very quick read as it is reletively short.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The return of Markus, who's fallen in love again. Today Markus is in love with Ellen Christine; yesterday it was Therese, but that was after Elisabeth; in short, he's been in love with all the girls in his class in just two months of his first year at junior high. His best friend, Sigmund, is always there to help in his humorous pursuits of each girl, but sometimes he gets in the way. Markus's father isn't any help at all; he has only ever been in love with Markus's mother, who died when Markus was very young. With affection and charm, Klaus Hagerup depicts the daily ups and downs, joys and fears of a completely unusual, completely normal teenager and his first steps into the unpredictable world of love. This is the second book in the warm, humorous series about thirteen-year-old Markus.

My Rating: 3/5

This book has been translated to English from Norwegian by Tara Chase. This is not the first Markus book, but it is the first one I have read. I had no trouble understanding anything without having read the others.

I really liked the characters in this book especially the protagonist Markus, his friend Sigmund and Markus's father.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that I felt like something was missing, like something was lost in translating it.

For the first time in a decade, Willy Wonka, the reclusive and eccentric chocolate maker, is opening his doors to the public--well, five members of the public to be exact. The lucky five who find a Golden Ticket in their Wonka chocolate bars will receive a private tour of the factory, given by Mr. Wonka himself. For young Charlie Bucket, this a dream come true. And, when he finds a dollar bill in the street, he can't help but buy two Wonka's Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delights--even though his impoverished family could certainly use the extra dollar for food. But as Charlie unwraps the second chocolate bar, he sees the glimmer of gold just under the wrapper! The very next day, Charlie, along with his unworthy fellow winners Mike Teavee, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde, and Augustus Gloop, steps through the factory gates to discover whether or not the rumors surrounding the Chocolate Factory and its mysterious owner are true. What they find is that the gossip can't compare to the extraordinary truth, and for Charlie, life will never be the same again. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, another unforgettable masterpiece from the legendary Roald Dahl, never fails to delight, thrill, and utterly captivate.

My Rating: 4/5

This is my favourite Roald Dahl book. Even though the intended audience is for children, it is still enjoyable for adults.

I read this book for the first time when I was 5 or 6 years old and this is the first time I have read it since. I wouldn't say I liked it as much as back then, but I still enjoyed it.

I haven't seen any of the movie adaptations of this movie yet, so it will be interesting to see how they compare to the book.

I love Roald Dahl's writing style as it is engaging whilst humerous at the same time.

Who is Katherine Patterson? It is a question she hopes no one can answer. To erase her past, Katherine has moved to a new city, enrolled in a new school, and even changed her name. She’s done the next best thing to disappearing altogether. Now, wary and alone, she seeks nothing more than anonymity. What she finds instead is the last thing she expected: a friend.

Even more unlikely, Katherine’s new friend is the most popular and magnetic girl in school. Extroverted, gorgeous, flirtatious, and unpredictable, she is everything that Katherine is not and doesn’t want to be: the center of attention. Yet Alice’s enthusiasm is infectious, her candor sometimes unsettling, and Katherine, in spite of her guarded caution, finds herself drawn into Alice’s private circle.

But Alice has secrets, too—darker than anyone can begin to imagine. And when she lets her guard down at last, Katherine discovers the darkest of them all. For there will be no escaping the past for Katherine Patterson—only a descent into a trap far more sinister . . . and infinitely more seductive.

My Rating: 3/5

What I didn't like about this book was how it is told from the past, the present and the future. This can get quite confusing.

I didn't like Katherine at all, she spent most of the book either crying or whinging.

Alice, although pure evil was the most entertaining character to read about. I felt like she really carried the novel.

Fifteen-year-old Christopher has a photographic memory. He understands maths. He understands science. What he can't understand are other human beings. When he finds his neighbour's dog lying dead on the lawn, he decides to track down the killer and write a murder mystery about it. But what other mysteries will he end up uncovering?

My Rating: 4/5

This is a very character driven novel. Luckily for me I liked Christopher from the very first page.

I found this book to be weird to begin with, then when I got deeper into the book, I couldn't put it down.

You would think having a protagonist who is autistic would be hard to pull off, but this book is written in such a way that it does work.

Christopher is a very memorable character, and this is a very unforgettable book.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Avalon High, I was starting to think, might not be so bad after all.
Maybe it's not where Ellie wants to be, but if you have to start at a new school, Avalon High is typical enough: There's Lance, the jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.
But not everyone at Avalon High is who they appear to be . . . not even, as Ellie is about to discover, herself. As a bizarre drama begins to unfold, Ellie has to wonder, what part does she play in all this? Do the coincidences she's piecing together really mean—as in King Arthur's court—that tragedy is fast approaching for her new friends?
Ellie doesn't know if she can do anything to stop the coming trouble. But somehow, she knows she has to try.

My Rating: 3/5

The only reason I read this book is because I had the opportunity to watch the movie, and I wanted to read the book before doing so.
I really did like this book, it was just a little too immature for me in small parts, and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Other than that, it was an amazing book.

Also, I really don't recommend watching the movie as it completely changes the ending from the one in the book.

Some vampires are good. Some are evil. Some are faking it to get girls. Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen-year-old Finbar Frame never gets the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole blood sucking part. With his brooding nature and weirdly pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be paranormal. But, when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that his life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected. This hilarious debut novel is for anyone who believes that sometimes even nice guys-without sharp teeth or sparkly skin--can get the girl.

My Rating: 4/5

I read this book in one sitting. I was completely captivated by it from the very first page.

This book was very funny at times and had likeable characters all-round.

This book was a very unique approach to the whole teenage vampire genre.

Readers captivated by Twilight and New Moon will eagerly devour Eclipse, the much anticipated third book in Stephenie Meyer's riveting vampire love saga. As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob —- knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

Again this book is a reread. What I liked most about this book is the ending. It had more action than the first two books in the series combined.

This book is one of my favourites in this series.

I would have been happy if the Twilight series had ended with this book.

This book tied all the loose ends from the previous two books. It also shines light on alot of the secondary characters history.

A magical short novel from the author of All My Friends are Superheroes.A robber holds up a Canadian bank but instead of stealing money he takes from each person the item of most sentimental value.As time passes the loss of these items have a dramatic effect on the victims: one discovers God under her sofa, another is attacked by her lion tattoo when it comes to life, and the wife of our narrator starts to shrink.It is a remarkable short novella, a modern fable that is weird, uplifting and romantic all at the same time.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book from Netgalley.

This book was weird to begin with, then it leaves you wanting more.

This book had alot of depth to it, some of which I don't think I completely understood.

It still had alot of entertaining aspects, like the tattoo of the lion coming to life and the lion chasing the woman around.

Shoot, I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.It all happened very quickly then.Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow. Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm-into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.Legions of readers entranced by Twilight are hungry for more and they won't be disappointed. In New Moon, Stephenie Meyer delivers another irresistible combination of romance and suspense with a supernatural twist. The "star-crossed" lovers theme continues as Bella and Edward find themselves facing new obstacles, including a devastating separation, the mysterious appearance of dangerous wolves roaming the forest in Forks, a terrifying threat of revenge from a female vampire and a deliciously sinister encounter with Italy's reigning royal family of vampires, the Volturi. Passionate, riveting, and full of surprising twists and turns, this vampire love saga is well on its way to literary immortality.

I liked this just slightly less than Twilight, simply because this book had all the angst.

This book sees the proper introduction of Jacob, who I didn't like at first when I read it for the first time years ago, but with each time I reread this book he grows on me more and more.

Welcome to New Avalon, where everyone has a personal fairy. Though invisible to the naked eye, a personal fairy, like a specialized good luck charm, is vital to success. And in the case of the students at New Avalon Sports High, it might just determine whether you make the team, pass a class, or find that perfect outfit. But for 14-year-old Charlie, having a Parking Fairy is worse than having nothing at all—especially when the school bully carts her around like his own personal parking pass. Enter: The Plan. At first, teaming up with arch-enemy Fiorenza (who has an All-The-Boys-Like-You Fairy) seems like a great idea. But when Charlie unexpectedly gets her heart’s desire, it isn’t at all what she thought it would be like, and she’ll have resort to extraordinary measures to ditch her fairy. The question is: will Charlie herself survive the fairy ditching experiment? From the author of the acclaimed Magic or Madness trilogy, this is a delightful story of fairies, friendships, and figuring out how to make your own magic.

My Rating: 3.5/5

The premise of this book is initially what drew me into reading it. It just sounded like a very interesting book to read.

I liked how the world the author created was a mix between the USA and Australia. I also liked how Cricket was brought into the story as it is one of my favourite sports.

The story, at times was a little immature but never lost the enjoyment factor.

This book brings a new, unique perspective to the whole fairy/faerie genre.

Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife-between desire and danger.Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

This was a reread for me. The first time I picked this book up was before the movie was released.

I didn't enjoy the book as much as when I first read it, but it is still one of my favourite series.

I know not alot of people like Bella, but she is one of my favourite characters. She is alot better in the books than in the movies.

I hope the hype for this series goes away after the last movie has been released because the hype is ruining the series.